The perils of an “open” relationship

Our last discussion made me remember a conversation I had with a friend who just broke up with her boyfriend. She asked her ex to change his password so she won’t be tempted to open his email again. Here’s the rest of the [edited] conversation:

Friend: We used to read each other’s mails. We’re that open. Weren’t you like that with [my ex]?

Me: I opened his email a few times because he asked me to. I never opened anything except the ones he asked me to read over the phone.

Friend: You never checked if he’s flirting or talking way too much with someone?

Me: No.

Friend: Even after you’ve broken up? See if there’s already another girl?

Me: No! Omg, is that why you check?

Friend: Duh.

It’s surprising how much damage a person can inflict on you just by having access to your email. The most obvious is invasion of privacy. It can also be used to cause you slight hassles or embarrassment. Worse, your account may be used for online activities that can, in the end, make you a victim (like the story in class), or maybe the accused (online fraud?). In a way, your account is like an extension of yourself and giving away your password is like giving a part of yourself for another person to manipulate. So yeah, it’s just reasonable to get that part of yourself back after a break-up. Remember: a password, unlike love, is not something that you give away.